'What's the point of a plebiscite?' asks Turnbull government minister

By Michael Koziol, Political reporter

UpdatedJuly 27, 2016 — 5.33pmfirst published at 2.08pm

Disagreement continues to flourish within the Turnbull government about a plebiscite on same-sex marriage, with the newly-appointed Minister for Small Business, Michael McCormack, questioning the point of a non-binding public vote.

The Nationals MP for Riverina told Fairfax Media that while he maintains his "steadfast" opposition to marriage equality itself, he would respect the national verdict when it came to a vote in Parliament.

"If the Parliament doesn't uphold the will of the people - having asked the people what they want - then I can't see the need for the plebiscite to occur," Mr McCormack said.

It followed an interview with his local Fairfax newspaper in which the minister suggested there was no point holding a plebiscite if his parliamentary colleagues ignored the result.

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"What's the point of a plebiscite?": Minister for Small Business Michael McCormack.

"If the Parliament of Australia has gone to the trouble and expense and effort of holding this plebiscite, then it's important we uphold the will of the people," he told the Eastern Riverina Chronicle.

"To my mind, what's the point of a plebiscite if members of Parliament vote the way they were going to vote anyway?"

That stance puts Mr McCormack in contradiction with several Coalition colleagues, who have indicated they will either ignore a national "yes" vote or vote in line with their conservative electorates.

Conservative Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi has said there is "no way" he would ever vote for same-sex marriage, while his Coalition colleagues Eric Abetz and Bridget McKenzie have indicated they are also unlikely to be bound by the result of the plebiscite.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has acknowledged that following a plebiscite, any subsequent vote in the Parliament would be a conscience vote - meaning MPs are free to vote as they wish, without direction from the party.

But Mr Turnbull, a supporter of same-sex marriage, said he expected marriage equality would "sail through" the Parliament if it were supported by the majority of Australians at the plebiscite.

Some opponents of marriage equality, including former prime minister Tony Abbott, have suggested they would cede to the will of the people in the likely event of a national "yes" vote.

Polling shows between 60 and 70 per cent of Australians back same-sex marriage. Although there is also support for a plebiscite, the level of that support erodes once people are told it is non-binding and will cost at least $160 million.

Labor is opposed to a plebiscite and will introduce a private members' bill within the first few weeks of the 45th Parliament calling for an immediate conscience vote. That bill is unlikely to pass the lower house, where the Coalition has a slim majority.

Attorney-General George Brandis intends to take a submission about the plebiscite to federal cabinet in the next few weeks. Labor has been equivocal on the subject of whether it will ultimately support enabling legislation for the plebiscite in the Senate.